Large Tortoiseshell vs Question Mark Butterfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Large Tortoiseshell | Question Mark Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nymphalis polychloros | Polygonia interrogationis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 54-65 mm wingspan | 45-76 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Orchards | Woodlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern (extinct in Britain) | Least Concern |
Large Tortoiseshell
A large orange butterfly with dark spots resembling a scaled-up small tortoiseshell, once widespread in Britain but now effectively extinct there. It hibernates as an adult in tree hollows.
Did You Know?
Its decline in Britain is thought to be linked to Dutch elm disease destroying its primary food plant.
Question Mark Butterfly
Orange butterfly with dark spots and irregular wing margins. A silvery question-mark shape on the underside of the hindwing gives it its name.
Did You Know?
It rarely visits flowers, preferring to feed on fermenting fruit, sap, and animal dung.